Keyboard clearing mechanism



April 28, 1953 H. GANG 2,636,679

KEYBOARD CLEARING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1950 I 2 SHEETSSHEET lINVENTOR HERMAN GANG AT ORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 KEYBOARD CLEARINGMECHANISM Herman Gang, Livingston, N. J assignor to Monroe CalculatingMachine Company, Orange, N. J a corporation of Delaware ApplicationSeptember 13, 1950, Serial N 0. 184,664

3 Claims.

The invention relates to keyboard clearing means for calculatingmachines having control means manually settable to enable or disablesuch clearing means. More specifically, the invention relates to meansautomatically operable to set such manually settable control means.

In certain machine operations involving plural registration of a valueset on the keyboard, as for example programs of multiplication ordivision, it is obviously necessary to insure that the control means forthe clearing or non-repeat means is disabled, i. e., adjusted to repeatposition. However, certain series of such calculations are ofteninterspersed with single registering op erations. It therefore becomesnecessary to reenable the non-repeat means for each of these singleoperations.

The present invention provides simplified and improved means forautomatically adjusting manually adjustable control means for theclearing means to repeat position upon initiation of a machine operationinvolving plural registration; in conjunction with automatic means foradjusting such control means to non-repeat or enabling position uponconclusion of the operation. The devices of the invention, however, areineiiective to adjust the control means to non-repeat position uponconclusion of the plural registering operation if, upon initiation oisuch operation, the control means has been manually set previously torepeat position. Thus, it will be seen that at the conclusion of thecalculation the manual setting of the control means will be unchangedfrom its previous set position.

The invention, however, will best be understood from the followingdescription with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of a calculating machine showing thecontrol devices of the invention set to non-repeat position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary right side elevation showing the control devicesset to repeat position by the manually operable means;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the control devices set torepeat position by the automatically operable means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the keyboard;

5 is a fragmentary view showing in detail the latching means for thekeys shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing details of the keyboardclearing mechanism.

The invention has been disclosed as controlling the operation ofkeyboard clearing means in conjunction with the performance of a programof multiplication or of division in a calculating machine operating inaccordance with the disclosure of applicants Pat. #2531307. This machineis disclosed in applicants Pat. #2531206 as having manually settablecontrol means for selectively enabling or disabling the keyboardclearing means to provide for a single or for a multi-cyclic registeringoperation respectively upon depression of a plus or of a minus bar.According to the pres ent invention this manually adjustable controlmeans for the clearing means is so modified in structure as to bealternatively adapted for the aforenoted automatic adjustments.

The keyboard i (Fig 1) comprises a plurality of denominational columnsof spring retracted depres-sible value keys 3 (Figs. 4 and 5). Each ofthe columns is provided with a spring urged latching bail 5 for holdingthe keys of the related column in depressed or set position byengagement with a notch 3 in the stem of the depressed key. Selectionbails l' are adjustable in accordance with depressed keys 3 to adjustthe digital actuators S accordingly. Thus, upon each registering cycleof the machine, value set on the keyboard are registered individend-product register ll.

The keyboard clearing means includes a transversely disposed slide it(Figs. l and 6) which engages each or the latching bails l and uponmovement by bell-crank l5 operates to rock each of the bails, therebyreleasing any set keys 2; on the keyboard.

A unitary member comprising a control plate ll (Figs. 1, 2, and 3)pivotally mounted on shaft [9 is selectively adjustable to enable oralternatively disable the keyboard clearing means. With plate H inclockwise position (Fig. l) a shoulder ll thereof engages a toe at thelower end of an arm 2| thereby moving and holding the lower end of thearm to the right on its slot and pin mounting 22. This adjustment of arm2| brings a cam face 2! thereof into the path of movement of a cam 23which is driven in time with the registering mechanism through a geartrain 25. Cam 23 is driven by lost motion connection so that near theend of each registering cycle, either forwardly or reversely, said camengages and rocks arm 21 counterclockwise. A second arm 27 has commonpivotal mounting at its lower end with arm 2! and slot and pinconnection near its upper free end. Thus, arm 2'! is rocked with arm 2|and its upper free end engages and rocks bell crank 15 clockwise (Fig.6) to move slide l3 thereby rocking bails 5 and releasing depressedvalue keys 3 of the keyboard.

In certain operations, fully disclosed in applicants aforenoted Pat.#2531306, arm 2'? is raised with relation to arm 2| so that its upperfree end is moved ineifectively above bell-crank i5 thus disabling theclearing means with control plate ll set in effective clockwiseposition. These operations, however, bear no relation to the presentinvention and'therefore arms'ill andz'i'may be considered as a unit withpin and slotnlounting at its lower end.

With control plate ll adjusted to counterclockwise or disablin position(Fig. ..2).,.sho.ulder 5? will be removed from engagement with the toeof arm 2|. Therefore, when camES enga es face 2i of arm 2|, the lowerend :of therarm will be moved to the left and the upper operatingend ofarm 2? will be imparted no movement to rock bell-crank 35 to clear thekeyboard. Thus, the values set on the keyboard will be repeatedlyregistered upon plural operation of the registering mechanism.

:Manuaily settable means comprising repeat key ;28:and-non+repeat key 3!are provided to effect the respective adjustments of control plate ll.The lower end of the stem of non-repeat key'di has'direct pivotalconnection with plate H and repeat key 29 is connected therewith throughauxiliary plate-33. Auxiliary plate 32% has commonpivotal-mounting withcontrolplate ti and yieldable connection therewith-comprising a spring35. Spring=35 urges control plate l'i clockwise and auxiliary plate 33counters clockwise, with 91 pin 3.3.5011. plate 33 normally engaging ashoulder of plate l! to limit the relative .movement. provide,pivotal-mountin for the lower end of the stem of repeat-key 25.Depression of nonrepeat key 3! will adjust plates H and 33 clockwise(Eig. l.) as a unit thereby enabling the clearing mechanism andconversely depression of repeat key 29 will rock theplatescounterclockwise (Fig. 2) 'to disable the clearing mechanism. A togglespring .31 having pin attachment to the machine frame and .to anupwardlyextending'forked arm of auxiliary plate 33 holds the plate in either ofits adjusted positions and normally control plate 1-! will be held inlike adjusted position therewith. The pin providing the-attachment oftoggle spring 37 with the machine. frame is positioned between the forkof the arm of auxiliary plate 33 and the inner sides respectively of thefork by engage?- ment therewith limit the movement of the plate to itsadjusted positions.

Should plates .i'l and33 be setin clockwise non-repeat or enablingposition by depression of non-repeat key 1M, control plate ll may beautomatically set counterclockwise (Fig. 3) to disabling .or repeatposition without disturbing the setting of auxiliary plate 33. Suchindependent adjustment of control plate .17 is permitted by the.yieldable spring connection .35 the tension of which is not suflicienttoovercome the urge of toggle springs! holding auxiliary plate 33 in itsclockwise setting.

The automatic and independent adjustment of .control ..plate IT maybe.eifected in conjunction with operations incident .to the. initiation ofprograms of division or multiplication fully disclosed in theaforenotedPat. #2,531,207. cording tosai'd disclosure to whichreferenceis made-for the operational.andstructural details, a shaft 39'(tlfiinthe, patent) is rocked from the clockwise position (Figs. 1 and2) to the counterclockwise position (Fig. .3) .as an incident toPin-331s further utilized to H the initiation of a program of divisionupon depression of a, divide key, not shown. Shaft 39 remains incounterclockwise position until the conclusion of the division program,at which time it is restored clockwise to normal.

A depending arm ll fixed on shaft 39 is adapted to engage a lug at thefree rear end of a link Q3 which at its forward end has pivotalconnection'with 9, depending arm. of control plate it. Therefore, uponcounterclockwise movement of shaft 38 (Fig. 3) arm M will engage link 43thereby moving said link toward the rear of the machine and adjustingcontrol plate 11 counterclockwise against the tension of spring todisable the keyboard clearing mechanism during the program of division.As heretofore noted, auxiliary plate 33 will be held in opposed adjustedposition by toggle spring ill and thus spring 2 15 will be renderedeffective to urge control plate clockwise to non-repeat position againstthe restraint of .link .53, arm 4!, and .shaft 3.9. Therefore, uponclockwise movement .of shaft 33 and arm ii at the conclusion of thedivision program, .link Q3 will be releasedand spring 35 will thenrestore controlplate .cloc wise into non-repeat position and into normalrelation with auxiliary plate 33, as shown inr'g. 1. Should therepeatkey 29 be set (Fig. 2) upon initiation of the division program,arm il will be idly operated in the division operation and-norelativeadjustment will be effected between control plate llandeuxiliary plate 33. Therefore, at the conclusion of the divisionprogram, control plate I? will remainin the repeat position to which itwasmanually adjusted.

Upon initiation of a program of multiplication a setting slide 4 (593 inthe noted Pat. #2531,- 207) is moved to the .rear throughconnectinglinkage upon depression of multiplier key it. Slide 4 5, key4.5, and .the connecting parts are latched inset position during theprogramand at the conclusion are released and spring retracted as fullydisclosed in the patent. .An upstanding finger 44' of slide it enga es apin Ha of control plate 5 I in its rearward .movement thereby adjustingthe plate to repeat position if manually set to nonerepeat, and .thesub.- sequent restoring adjustments at the conclusion of themultiplication program are all eilectedes described in connection withthe division program.

As disclosedin the aforenotedPat. #2,531,206, a second means,independent from that herein described in connection withthe devices ofthe invention is provided to clear the keyboard. This operation iseffected by a clear clutch which rocks a bail to depress a zero key or"each column of the keyboard thereby releasing any set value keys. Asdisclosed .in the aforenote'd Pat. #2531307, operation of this keyboardclearing means is effected automatically at the conclusion of either aprogram of multiplication or or" divi sion. Values may, therefore, beset inthe keyboard for the following registering operation without thenecessity of a preclearing operation.

It will be noted that the devices of the invention may be renderedinoperative by replacing spring 35 by another sufficiently .tensioned toovercome toggle spring 3? should it be desired that the clearing meansremains disabled at the conclusion of the division or multiplicationprograms; This arrangement offers considerable advantage by permittingthe use of identical parts adaptable for alternative operation withoutex tensive alteration. I

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood that the invention is not to be restricted except inso far as necessitated by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a register, a keyboard comprisingsettable numeral keys, and means for latching said keys in set position;the combination with a member settable upon initiation of a machineoperation involving plural registration of a value set on said keyboardin said register and means for automatically restoring said member uponconclusion of said operation; of non-repeat means automatically operableto release said keys from said latching means, a control deviceadjustable alternatively to enable or to disable said non-repeat means,alternatively settable non-repeat and repeat keys for eifecting theadjustments respectively of said device, a yieldable connection betweensaid device and Said repeat key, a power transmission member operable bysaid settable member upon initiation of said machine operation to moveto and then to hold said device in disabling position, means for holdingsaid repeat key in unset position against the urge of said yieldableconnection, and means comprising said yieldable connection for adjustingsaid device to enabling position upon release thereof by restoration ofsaid settable member.

2. In a calculating machine having a register, a fixed frame, a keyboardcomprising settable numeral keys on said frame, and means for latchingsaid keys in set position; the combination with a member settable uponinitiation of a machine operation involving plural registration of avalue set on said keyboard in said register, and means for automaticallyrestoring said member upon conclusion of said operation; of non-repeatmeans automatically operable to release said keys from said latchingmeans, a control device adjustable alternatively to enable or to disablesaid non-repeat means, alternatively settable non-repeat and repeat keysfor effecting the adjustments respectively of said device, a yieldableconnection between said device and said repeat key, a toggle springbetween said repeat key and said fixed frame operable to hold saidrepeat key in either set or unset position, a power transmission memberoperable by said settable member upon initiation of said machineoperation to move and then to hold said device in disabling positionwith said repeat key in unset position, and means comprising saidyieldable connection for adjusting said device to enabling position uponrelease thereof by restoration of settable said member.

3. In a calculating machine having a register, a fixed frame, a keyboardcomprising settable numeral keys on said frame, and means for latchingsaid keys in set position; the combination with a member settable uponinitiation of a machine operation involving plural registration of avalue set on said keyboard in said register, and means for automaticallyrestoring said member upon conclusion of said operation; of non-repeatmeans automatically operable to release said keys from said latchingmeans, a control plate havin pivotal mounting on said frame andadjustable alternatively to enable or to disable said nonrepeat means,an auxiliary plate having common pivotal mounting with said controlplate and yieldable connection therewith, a non-repeat key havingoperating connection with said control plate, a repeat key havingoperating connection with said auxiliary plate, a toggle spring betweensaid auxiliary plate and said frame normally effective to hold saidcontrol plate in either of its adjusted positions, a power transmissionmember operable by said settable member upon initiation of said machineoperation to move and then to hold said control plate in disablingposition with said auxiliary plate held in the opposed position by saidtoggle spring, and means comprising said yieldable connection foradjusting said device to enabling position upon release thereof byrestora tion of said settable member.

HERMAN GANG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,354,839 Phinney Oct. 5, 1920 2,160,361 Hilder May 30, 19392,350,979 Avery June 13, 1944 2,366,345 Machado Jan. 2, 1945 2,390,041Avery Dec. 4, 1945 2,403,273 Friden July 2, 1946 2,531,204 Gang Nov. 2,1950

